Apple MacBook Pro 15 - 2017

As using the Apple MacBook Pro 15 inch is a seriously impressive computer. And now that the mid-year refresh has arrived, it costs a little less and performs a little better than the model reviewed here.

Even if you're not sold on the idea of the Touch Bar, this slightly updated MacBook Pro is still the king of high-end laptops, especially for the creative...

Even if you're not sold on the idea of the Touch Bar, this slightly updated MacBook Pro is still the king of high-end laptops, especially for the creative...

It's excellent news that Apple has moved to the seventh generation Intel Kaby Lake processors, we are also pleased to see new graphics cards. Performance is outstanding. The 15-inch MacBook Pro would still benefit from a few other pro features, a 4K display for one, 32GB RAM being another.

Apple's multimedia notebook MacBook Pro 15 is back on par with the rivals in terms of processor performance thanks to the Kaby Lake update. The new models are therefore more attractive, especially for power users in need of as much CPU performance as possible. Apple also ships the new entry-level model with a slightly more powerful GPU. Its strength is definitely the efficiency and the low heat development.

There are main reasons to wail on the MacBook Pro – the largely pointless Touch Bar, the annoying lack of even a single USB port (where's my adapter gone, damnit) – but I'm happy to say that the MacBook Pro is back. Especially if you don't like touchscreens.

The MacBook Pro is not a Mac Pro replacement. The next closest thing to the Mac Pro is the forthcoming iMac Pro, but failing that, a 4K or 5K iMac will fit the bill for horsepower. If you need oomph plus portability, get a MacBook Pro. If processing power and RAM are first in your mind, get a 4K or 5K iMac for fewer bucks than a less powerful MacBook Pro will cost. Otherwise, wait to drop $5,000 or more on an iMac Pro.

It's excellent news that Apple has moved to the seventh generation Intel Kaby Lake processors. Of course the eighth generation chips probably won't be that far away but if we always waited for the next big thing we'd never get anything new to play...